Aluva: In a novel initiative, the Aluva municipality has installed ‘Robobin’, an ATM-style waste-treatment booth that operates on robotic technology. Industries Minister P Rajeev will inaugurate the booth at 3 pm on Saturday, with Anwar Sadath MLA presiding over the function.

The municipality decided to set up three additional booths after the ‘waste-treatment ATM’ installed on the municipal office premises on a trial basis proved successful. The first of the new ATMs has now been installed in front of the Town Hall and will be opened on Saturday. Built at a cost of ₹20 lakh by an agency named Envirotech, the booth has the capacity to process one tonne of biowaste daily.

Residents of Aluva can deposit waste in the ATM by paying a fee of ₹7 per kg. Facilities have also been arranged to collect used diapers and napkins at the booth. “The work on the remaining two booths will begin soon,” said municipal chairperson M O John.